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Jai Alai

Learn English meaning of ‘Jai Alai’

Date: Jan 29 2016

Themes: Hobbies, Pop Culture, Sports

Grammar: You're vs. Your

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Intro

1. Learn Vocabulary - Learn some new vocabulary before you start the lesson.

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2. Read and Prepare - Read the introduction and prepare to hear the audio.

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People have many different ideas about sports. Some people think that dance and cheerleading are sports, but other people believe that a person must play against an opponent in a sport. Basketball, football, and baseball are examples of sports that many people in the US enjoy. On the other hand, jai alai is popular in other countries, but many people in the US don’t get it.

Jai alai comes from the Basque region of Spain. It is a very fast game, which people play with scoops and a ball on a long court. People often think that it is intimidating because the ball moves so quickly, and it hurts to be hit by a jai alai ball. Fans of jai alai call it the fastest sport in the world. They love to watch the action and gamble on their favorite teams.

Romeo is surprised because jai alai is not popular in the US. Hear his opinion in today’s English lesson.

Dialog

1. Listen and Read - Listen to the audio and read the dialog at the same time.

2. Study - Read the dialog again to see how the vocab words are used.

Romeo

Marni

Romeo: I just don’t get it.

Marni: What?

Romeo: Jai alai is not a popular sport here in the US?

Marni: Are you a jai alai player?

Romeo: I’m extremely into it. I’m not a player.

Marni: So, you enjoy watching the sport of jai alai?

Romeo: Yes.

Marni: And, are they matches? Do you go to a jai alai match? Is it a game? Is it a…

Romeo: It’s intense.

Marni: OK.

Romeo: It’s an experience, and I can’t believe that people don’t accept it or acknowledge it as a sport. People think cheerleading is a sport. Why would cheerleading be a sport but not jai alai?

Marni: I don’t know anything about it. What I think about jai alai is there are these big scoops, and you throw the ball in the scoop… kind of like tennis but with big scoops, right?

Romeo: Right, yes. And it’s intimidating.

Marni: It seems intimidating. It’s very fast paced, right?

Romeo: Yes. You can even gamble.

Marni: What!?

Romeo: It’s one of those types of sports. You can gamble.

Marni: Oh, well, that’s exciting. So, are there…

Romeo: You’re moving up and down the court. You’re scooping, you’re passing, you’re trying to get a goal.

Marni: OK.

Romeo: I mean it’s kind of like football, in a sense.

Marni: Are you just playing against one opponent, or are there teams?

Romeo: There’re multiple people, but it’s two teams… opposing teams… playing each other.

Marni: Wow, I just…

Romeo: Come watch a game with me.

Marni: Yeah, I’m fascinated. Let’s do it!

Romeo: Let’s do it!

Grammar Point

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Quizzes

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Discussion

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Romeo doesn’t understand why jai alai isn’t popular in the US. He loves to watch jai alai, but most people in the US don’t acknowledge it as a sport. Marni asks Romeo to explain the details of the game. She knows the players use big scoops to throw a ball, but she needs more information about the game.

Romeo tells her that jai alai happens very quickly. Because of this, it is an intimidating game. He says that it is similar to many other sports, in a sense. There are opposing teams, and people place bets on who will win. Marni is interested in learning more, so Romeo invites her to go to a jai alai game with him.

What do you know about jai alai? Which sports are your favorites?

Comments

NoUsSa

Algeria

nice it,s really good new information that i didn,t know it before ….. i like it

ugur_1907_

Turkey

I dont really know it could be a sport or not because I have never heard about it.

nefess

Turkey

I didnt hear it before.

makin02

Algeria

the first time i heard about this kind of sports but i think it ’s wonderful game because has wonderful competition i can imagne it and my favorite sports is foot ball because you can move any part in your body and also swim

ola33

Japan

Never heard about it.

wiedemann

Colombia

This is the first time I heard about this kind of sport. It sounds interesting. I’m very fond of basketball; I like watching those movements and when they slap down the ball in the basket thoroughly.

hilalyksl

Turkey

I have never heart until now but it seems interesting.

Wuthering

United States

I haven’t heard about Jai Alai until now in this lesson . I have seen racquetball , It seems popular in the US and it is fast sport too . I think I am stick with Tennis . lol

Seiyf_khawas

Turkey

ı heard this sport first time in this lesson , like other ebabians ))))

it seems very different ,interesting sports with its tools ,big scoops..

and ı put some pics for wondering this sports ))

David023

Germany

Hi guys, nice article.

I’m from basque country (where this sport was born) and is not very fashionable sport, is hard to spot people playing it.It easier to find one of the other ways this game is played, using a tennis racket and even a faster ball, or just using your own bare hand.

Anyway, is not one of the most played sports, we still preffer football or basketball ;)